MLB Player News
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Josh H. Smith SS | TEX
Rangers' Josh Smith: Will not be in strict platoon
Rangers manager Skip Schumaker indicated Monday that Smith will not be in a strict platoon at second base, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
The left-handed-hitting Smith has hit only .223/.309/.322 against lefty hurlers in his career, but Schumaker plans to give Smith some starts at the keystone versus left-handed pitching. Smith entered play Monday slashing .333/.429/.542 with one home run and a 4:5 BB:K in his first 10 Cactus League contests.
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Francisco Lindor SS | NYM
Mets' Francisco Lindor: Still optimistic for Opening Day
Lindor (hand) remains confident he'll be available for the Mets' March 26 season opener versus the Pirates, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.
The veteran shortstop has progressed to hitting in a batting cage as he works his way back from hamate bone surgery. Lindor won't get his normal workload in official spring training games regardless of whether he meets that timeline or not, but he thinks he'll be able to stack up enough at-bats in back-field contests to make up the difference once he's cleared for game action. Lindor slashed .267/.346/.466 with 31 home runs and 31 steals over 160 games in 2025, his second career 30-30 campaign.
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Jesus Made SS | MIL
Brewers' Jesus Made: Sent to minors camp
The Brewers reassigned Made to minor-league camp Monday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
Made was awarded with an invitation to major-league camp after slashing .285/.379/.413 across three levels in the minors last season. The top prospect will turn just 19 in May, so he never had a real chance to make the team. Made should return to Double-A Biloxi to begin the 2026 season.
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Kahlil Watson SS | CLE
Guardians' Kahlil Watson: Cut from major-league camp
The Guardians optioned Watson to minor-league camp Monday, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.
Watson impressed at the plate this spring in going 6-for-14 with one stolen base and a 2:5 BB:K, but it wasn't enough to put him in play for an Opening Day roster spot. The 22-year-old made a full-time move to the outfield in 2025 and will again handle all three outfield spots at Triple-A Columbus.
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Angel Genao SS | CLE
Guardians' Angel Genao: Cut from big-league camp
The Guardians optioned Genao to minor-league camp Monday, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.
Genao nabbed a spot on the Guardians' 40-man roster this offseason, but he was always destined to head back to the minors for more seasoning. The 21-year-old infielder was limited by a shoulder injury last season, but he's healthy now and should begin the year back at Double-A Akron.
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J.P. Crawford SS | SEA
Mariners' J.P. Crawford: Back at shortstop
Crawford (shoulder) will start at shortstop and bat fifth in Monday's Cactus League game against the Diamondbacks.
Crawford will be included in the Cactus League lineup for the sixth time this spring, but he'll be making just his second start at shortstop and his first since Feb. 20. The 31-year-old has been battling a cranky shoulder during camp, which prompted the Mariners to use him as a designated hitter for his last four starts. Crawford should be ready to play shortstop on an everyday basis once the regular season gets underway; the Mariners appear to have simply exercised caution this spring by limiting his usage in the infield early on.
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Leo De Vries SS | ATH
Athletics' Leo De Vries: Monster spring performance
De Vries went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer and a grand slam in Sunday's Cactus League win over the Dodgers.
De Vries made his presence felt, first demolishing a two-run rocket over the right-field fence off Kyle Hurt in the fourth inning before launching a grand slam off Carson Hobbs in the fifth frame. Both blasts came from the left side for the switch-hitter, who's slashing .385/.429/.615 through 11 spring contests after Sunday's outburst. The 19-year-old is likely to begin the season with Double-A Midland or Triple-A Las Vegas, though the top prospect could push to make his major-league debut in the second half of the 2026 campaign.
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Hao Yu Lee SS | DET
Tigers' Hao-Yu Lee: Booted from big-league camp
The Tigers optioned Lee (oblique) to Triple-A Toledo on Monday, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
It's unlikely he was going to make the Opening Day roster anyway, but Lee's chances evaporated after he sustained a left oblique strain. The 23-year-old infielder could get a late start to the minor-league season.
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Max Muncy SS | ATH
Athletics' Max Muncy: Solid start to spring
Muncy is 6-for-21 with four walks, two doubles, a home run and five RBI through 10 Cactus League games.
Muncy has seen regular playing time at the hot corner this spring and has looked solid at the dish, tallying three extra-base hits while also showing improved plate discipline with four walks thus far. He walked only 4.6 percent of the time during a lackluster rookie campaign last season, when the 23-year-old slashed .214/.259/.379 with seven doubles, nine homers and 23 RBI across 63 games. Continuing to produce strong numbers in Cactus League play should aid Muncy's pursuit of the starting third-base job for the 2026 regular season, though Darell Hernaiz -- who's away from the team competing for Team Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic -- and Andy Ibanez remain in the mix.
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Geraldo Perdomo SS | ARI
Diamondbacks' Geraldo Perdomo: Back in WBC lineup
Perdomo (illness) will start at shortstop and bat ninth for Team Dominican Republic in Monday's game against Team Israel in the World Baseball Classic.
After falling ill, Perdomo was held out of the lineup for Sunday's 12-1 win over Team Netherlands, with Erik Gonzalez filling in at shortstop in his stead. The Diamondbacks infielder needed just one day off to move past the ailment and will rejoin the starting nine as the Dominican Republic looks to move to 3-0 in pool play.